Oil drip mat

ABSTRACT

An oil drip mat ( 10 ) is disclosed having a panel ( 11 ) with a peripheral margin ( 12 ) and a sump ( 13 ). The mat also includes a removable oil absorbant pad ( 14 ) positioned within the sump ( 13 ). The top surface ( 15 ) of the peripheral margin ( 12 ) slopes downwardly from the outer edge of the margin toward the sump ( 13 ) so that fluids dripping upon the top surface of the margin are gravitationally drawn into the sump ( 13 ) wherein they are absorbed by the pad ( 14 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to mats, and specifically to mats designed to collect oil dripping from the engine of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Vehicles having internal combustion engines typically had problems relating to the leakage of oils of other fluids such as grease, water and coolant from the engine, transmission and radiator. These fluids usually drip upon the floor below the vehicle. These drippings can cause a dangerous condition to persons walking across the floor, an aesthetically unpleasant appearance upon the floor and a potential harm to the floor itself.

[0003] Devices have been designed to be placed beneath a vehicle in order to catch the dripping fluids. The most basic of these designs has been the drip pan which is simply a shallow pan placed beneath the vehicle to collect the dripping fluids. These pans however must be periodically emptied and cleaned, an unpleasant and sometimes difficult task with many fluids relating to internal combustion engines. A modification of this basic drip pan design has been the addition of a fluid absorbing layer to the drip pan which absorbs the dripping fluids. These fluid absorbing layers are typically made of a cellulois material, clay or fiberboard. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,141,522, these devices may include a frame which partially contains the fluid absorbing material. These devices however are typically discarded in whole after they become saturated with fluids. Furthermore, their relatively large size creates a problem with regard to their handling and final disposal.

[0004] Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains a device that collects fluids dripping from a vehicle but which does not create a cleaning and disposal problem. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In a preferred form of the invention, an oil drip mat for an automobile is disclosed comprising a panel having an oil resistant top surface and an oil resistant sump therein extending from the top surface, and an oil absorbent pad configured to be removably mounted within the sump. With this construction and with the automobile parked over the mat, oil from the automobile may drip upon the panel and be collected within the oil absorbent pad wherein from time to time the oil saturated pad may be removed and replaced with another like pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of an oil drip mat in a preferred form of the invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the oil drip mat of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] With reference next to the drawings there is shown an oil drip mat 10 in a preferred form of the invention. The oil drip mat 10 includes a panel 11 having a peripheral margin 12, a sump 13 and a removable oil absorbant pad 14 positioned within the sump 13. The peripheral margin 12 has a concave top surface 15 which slopes downwardly from the outer edge of the margin towards the sump 13. The panel 11, or at least the top surface 15 of the panel 11, is made of an oil resistant material, such as rubber, plastic or metal. The pad 14 conversely is made of a material which readily absorbs oil and other fluids, such as a cellulose material. The pad 14 includes a tab 16 which extends above the top edge of the sump 13.

[0009] In use, the mat 10 is positioned on a generally flat surface, such as a garage floor, upon which a vehicle is parked. The mat 10 is sized and shaped so that the vehicle's tires T straddle the mat as the vehicle is parked. As such, oil and other fluids which leak from the engine or transmission of the vehicle drip onto the top surface 15 of the peripheral margin 12 or the top surface of the pad 14. The fluid dripping upon the pad 14 is quickly absorbed into the pad. The fluid dripping upon the top surface 15 of the peripheral margin 12 gravitationally travels down the top surface 15 and into the sump 13, wherein the fluid is absorbed by the pad 14.

[0010] After some time, the pad 14 becomes saturated with fluid. When this occurs, one simply grasps the pad tab 16 and removes the pad 14 from the sump 13, wherein the oil saturated pad 14 may be disposed of properly. A new replacement pad 14 is then positioned within the sump 13.

[0011] It should be noted that the present invention provides a large protective area for capturing fluids while maintaining a relatively small area of fluid saturated material which ultimately requires proper disposal, i.e. the area of the peripheral margin 12 is larger than the area of the sump 13. As such, the present invention enables one to quickly and easily remove the oil by merely removing a small portion of the mat.

[0012] It should also be noted that the panel 11 may be made of a resilient material, such as foam rubber with an oil resistant coating, so that in the event the vehicle accidently roll over the panel the panel simply rebounds to its initial configuration and thus is not permanently damaged.

[0013] It should be understood that the sump may be positioned at one end or side of the panel rather than being positioned generally within the mid-region of the panel as shown in the preferred embodiment. Also, it should be understood that the panel top surface is not required to be sloped, although this is preferred as it causes the fluids to pool better within the sump.

[0014] It thus is seen that an oil drip mat is now provided which enables one to capture and dispose of dripping fluids in a easy and quick manner. While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. An oil drip mat for an automobile comprising: a panel having an oil resistant top surface and an oil resistant sump therein extending from said top surface; and an oil absorbent pad configured to be removably mounted within said sump, whereby with the automobile parked over the mat oil drips upon the panel and is collected within the oil absorbent pad wherein from time to time the oil saturated pad is removed and replaced with another like pad.
 2. The oil drip mat of claim 1 wherein said top surface is configured to slope downwardly from the periphery of said panel to said sump.
 3. The oil drip mat of claim 1 wherein said panel is sized and shaped to pass between the tires of an automobile.
 4. The oil drip mat of claim 1 wherein said pad includes a tab extending beyond said sump.
 5. An oil drip mat comprising a panel having a peripheral margin having a top surface extending to an opening having a floor, said peripheral margin having a selected top surface area and said opening having a selected area less than said peripheral margin selected area, and a removable oil absorbent pad configured to reside within said sump.
 6. The oil drip mat of claim 5 wherein said peripheral margin top surface slopes downwardly from the peripheral edge of said margin towards said opening.
 7. An automobile oil drip mat comprising a panel having a generally concave top surface so as to form a lower region surrounded by a peripheral, elevated region, a sump positioned within said lower region extending from said top surface, and an oil absorbent pad removably positioned within a said sump, whereby with the automobile parked over the mat oil may drip upon the panel and be gravitationally drawn into the sump within a lower region wherein the pad absorbs the oil.
 8. The automobile oil drip mat of claim 7 wherein said panel is sized and shaped to pass between the tires of an automobile. 